Fire and rescue services across England responded to a total of 1,530 incidents during Christmas 2023, according to new data. The findings, compiled from Home Office statistics and Freedom of Information requests, highlight the impact of the festive season on emergency services, with London seeing the highest number of incidents.
Greater London accounted for the largest share, with 395 incidents, significantly higher than the national average. This was followed by Greater Manchester, with 72 incidents, and Devon and Somerset, with 62.
Top Christmas Incident Locations:
- Greater London: 395 incidents
- Greater Manchester: 72 incidents
- Devon and Somerset: 62 incidents
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight: 60 incidents
- Merseyside: 59 incidents
On the other end of the scale, Derbyshire recorded the lowest number of incidents, with just two. Other areas with fewer incidents included Northumberland with four, and Shropshire, which reported nine incidents.
Lowest Christmas Incident Locations:
- Derbyshire: 2 incidents
- Northumberland: 4 incidents
- Shropshire: 9 incidents
- Gloucestershire: 12 incidents
- Cornwall, Cumbria, and others: 10 incidents each
Despite the large number of incidents in Greater London, the data also revealed that a significant portion of these were false alarms. Of the 395 total incidents in London, 186 were false alarms, nearly half of the total. These included incidents categorized under “due to apparatus,” “good intent,” and “malicious” alarms, with only two being classified as malicious. The rest were caused by errors or people acting with good intentions.
The most common incident types in London were non-fire incidents (174), with 159 of these stemming from apparatus issues, and 25 from good intent. Secondary fires (10) and fire-related incidents in dwellings (13) also contributed to the total.
Cooking Fires and Christmas Tree Incidents
A Freedom of Information request also uncovered that over the past six years, there were 61 fire service callouts related to Christmas trees. The majority of these incidents were caused by faulty fairy lights, candles, or sparklers. Tyne and Wear had the highest number, with 19 incidents, followed by West Yorkshire with 15.
Cooking fires were another significant concern, with 85 incidents over the same period. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service had the highest number of cooking-related callouts, with 20. Common causes included placing foil in microwaves, food burning, and fires caused by overcooked festive treats such as Yorkshire pudding.
Josh Edwards, who analysed the data, stressed the importance of fire safety during the Christmas period. He urged people to be extra cautious when leaving their homes for the holidays.
Top Fire Safety Tips:
- Unplug festive decorations: Ensure lights and electrical decorations are switched off or unplugged when leaving the house.
- Switch off appliances: Double-check that heaters, ovens, and other electrical devices are turned off to avoid hazards.
- Clear the cooker: Keep the area around stovetops free of clutter, especially flammable items like dish towels.
- Check smoke alarms: Test smoke alarms and replace batteries to ensure they’re in working order.
Edwards concluded, “As we celebrate the festive season, it’s crucial to be mindful of fire risks, ensuring a safe and happy Christmas for everyone.”
